Today we’d like to introduce you to Summer Nilsson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Marketing Degree from the Cox School of Business and a double minor in Advertising and Psychology.
My first job was with Allegro Development. Allegro is a global leader in commodity trading and risk management for the energy industry. I was hired as a Marketing Manager to plan media and international events. After several years, I was ready to focus my energy on advertising. I worked at Belo for The Dallas Morning News before transitioning to national media sales, where I spent years learning the industry and cultivating key relationships. I was then chosen by Hearst to join the Food Network launch team. It was a pivotal point in my early career. The team was challenged with creating an omni-channel content platform in which to reverse engineer editorial, celebrity talent, seasonal priorities, retail shopper marketing initiatives, tentpole programming, sponsorships, and in-store experiential to attain #1 share of market in a crowded epicurean space.
Following the success of the Food Network Magazine, I launched a national media and marketing firm with offices in Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, and Detroit, representing Hearst, Meredith, Time Inc., Group Nine, Clique Brands, for brands including People, ELLE, Taste of Home, Who What Wear, Departures, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly, Town & Country, ELLE Decor, House Beautiful, Outside, among many others, to develop strategic partnerships and complex content strategies with Walmart, Sam’s Club, Neiman Marcus, Kendra Scott, The Container Store, American Airlines, etc.
As the media landscape evolved, I wanted to have a hands-on role in the transition to a more purpose-driven consumer mindset. I then launched a national partnership firm to connect best-in-class brands and talent to create game-changing collaborations for Dell, Brandon Maxwell, American Express, Christofle, Ashley Longshore, Hall, etc. I also work as a C-level consultant to provide 20+ years of experience in partnerships, branding, content, media, and marketing strategy, and I am a member of THE BOARD.
In 2021, I launched the Loodor Tales Series, an original series targeting youth with storylines to support social acceptance and mental health. Told through the lens of animals, the series follows Grey the Kitten on her journey to discover identity and the gift of empathy.
The Loodor Tales Series launched with The Land of the Pines, and sequel, The Land of the Strays, both of which debuted as a #1 New Release and achieved Amazon bestseller status.
As covered in the August 2022 issue of Kirkus Reviews, “The Land of the Pines ends with the perfect setup for the sequel.” The series has been featured on NBC, CW33, and ABC, and received rave reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Foreword Clarion, Kirkus, InStyle, CultureMap, etc. CultureMap declared, “The Land of the Pines is movie-worthy…a modern take on Charlotte’s Web.” The Land of the Pines was named among the “Best Children’s Books of 2021, Middle Grade”.
The Land of the Pines and The Land of the Strays are both available at Amazon.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s never as smooth as you hoped it would be, but I love what I do. I found my purpose, and when you truly feel that your work is a representation of your purpose, it changes your motivation to keep going. There will always be obstacles to overcome, but you become unwilling to quit. That’s a very different mindset.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I created the Loodor Tales Series to inspire youth with a message of self-worth, empathy, and kindness. We live in a complicated world where tweens and teens face unprecedented challenges. To broach complex topics, I created multi-faceted characters whose inner dialogue represents ego, mind chatter, false narrative, and imposter syndrome. These characters provide an opportunity to engage youth in real conversations about inner strength, inclusivity, and the power of words.
The series began as a result of my now 14 and 15-year-old nieces when I noticed insecurities forming as a result of their exposure to comments on social media at an early age. I saw an opportunity to leverage my 20+ years of marketing/branding and storytelling experience to create an original series that could bridge the gap between fun, fantasy, and formidable content with purposeful subtext. For me, Grey represents the balance of becoming your best self while striving to achieve
collective success. Words can build things or break them. Therein lies the magic of our voice.
From this series emerged an opportunity to develop cross-over content and adaptation for film/tv, gaming, EdTech, etc. I’ve written the film treatments corresponding to the first two books, and I have a concept for a gaming component. I am also in the process of launching a podcast and writing the third book in the series.
The series has been endorsed by Jennifer Levene Bruno (Hearst Corporation), Sandra Campos (CEO, Named Among Most Powerful Latinas), Michael Ziegler (Speedway Motorsports), Sid Miller (Texas Agriculture Commissioner), among many others. In January 2023, the series was featured by Michael Clinton, former President of Hearst Magazines and bestselling author of ROAR.
Social responsibility priorities include children’s mental health, education, animals, and veterans. In the past two years, I have collaborated with hospitals, underserved schools, and children’s organizations including The Birthday Party Project, St. Jude, Dell Children’s, Scottish Rite for Children, Girl Scouts, and Children’s Health to donate books and create unique activations for kids. I’ve participated in Dell Children’s Annual Superhero Day, as well as co-hosted the Morning Show on the Children’s Health Network, brought to you by Seacrest Studios (Ryan Seacrest Foundation).
I was recently honored by the Texas Department of Agriculture with the Order of the Bluebonnet – an award extended to Texas women for their exemplary work as pioneers making a difference. I also serve on the National Advisory Council for Girls Inc.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the Katy Trail! I’m obviously a huge animal person, so I love to see the dogs on the trail. It’s my favorite place for a walk on a pretty day in Dallas. I also have to give a shout out to Operation Kindness, a pioneer in Dallas for saving homeless animals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.loodor.com
- Instagram: @summer_nilsson
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summernilsson/
Image Credits
Loodor, LLC
